Oakland Eats: Rush Bowls, Bamboo Asia headed to downtown; Umami Mart relocates; more

Oakland Eats: Rush Bowls, Bamboo Asia headed to downtown; Umami Mart relocates; moreRush Bowls. | Photo: Emi J./Yelp
Teresa Hammerl
Published on May 21, 2019

In this edition, a healthy meal-in-a-bowl eatery expands to Oakland, a Japanese kitchen supply store relocates, Downtown gets a new fast-casual lunch option and a bakery-café chain appears to be departing Oakland.

Openings

Downtown

Rush Bowls (350 17th St.)

PHOTO: ALBERTINO M./HOODLINE TIPLINE

Hoodline's veteran tipster Al M. alerted us that national chain Rush Bowls will be opening a location downtown. According to Alameda Magazine, Rush Bowls' first Oakland location is set to open late this summer, in the former Mona's Hair Designs space. 

The meal-in-a-bowl eatery, which also offers smoothies, was founded in Boulder, Colorado in 2004, and has since opened locations across the country (including one in Berkeley, at 1935 Addison St.)

Bowls include fruit, yogurt, granola and honey, and can be accessorized with vegetables, protein and vitamins. (Here's the full menu.)

For now, Al M. says, the space's "windows are covered [and] no work is to be seen." We'll keep you posted as Rush Bowls' opening date nears. 

Bamboo Asia (1221 Broadway)

Photo: Albertino M./Hoodline Tipline

Al M. also noticed another upcoming addition to the neighborhood: fast-casual Asian restaurant Bamboo Asia is taking over the former City Center Grill space. The eatery already has two San Francisco locations — one in the FiDi, another in SoMa — and just opened another FiDi location last Friday.

Bamboo Asia's Oakland outpost will officially open its doors next month, with three different "islands" serving dishes from Japan, Vietnam, and India, respectively. Offerings will include sushi rolls, roti wraps, rice bowls, salads and banh mi sandwiches, made with seafood and meat certified by Monterey Bay Seafood Watch and American Humane Certified.

The Oakland location will also offer beer, wine, sake, and kombucha, and have an on-site foosball table. We'll keep you posted on an opening date. 

Temescal

Umami Mart (4027 Broadway)

Photo: Umami Mart/Facebook

After seven years in Old Oakland, Japanese kitchenware and dry goods store Umami Mart has made the move to Temescal. According to Eater SF, the shop now occupies a much larger space, with a six-seat tasting bar in the back where visitors can sample the selection of beer and sake, or enjoy items purchased in the on-site bottle shop (for an additional fee). 

Umami Mart will continue to offer bar tools and glassware from Japan, as well as a selection of Japanese pantry items, including salts and soy sauce.

Anders Arhoj of Denmark-based Studio Arhoj is responsible for the new shop's interior design, including extensive wooden shelving and an art wall.

Closings

Downtown

Paris Baguette (1389 Jefferson St.)

Photo: Albertino M./Hoodline Tipline

Korean chain Paris Baguette, which specializes in pastries, sandwiches, soups and salads, has unexpectedly closed its sole Oakland location.

Al M. alerted us to the closure, noting that the shop didn't leave a goodbye note for customers. The chain's website only states that the location is "temporarily unavailable."

Fans of Paris Baguette can still visit its other Bay Area outposts: the nearest is in downtown Berkeley, and there are also locations in Dublin, Daly City and South San Francisco. 


Thanks to our hardworking tipster Al M.! Have you noticed a new addition to (or subtraction from) Oakland's food landscape? Text a tip and a horizontal photo to (510) 757-9959, and we'll look into it.